Fun Town worker hit by coaster

A Fun Town Amusement Pier employee was injured yesterday after being hit by a roller coaster giving children a ride, police said. The man received lacerations to his head and leg, but was conscious, police said. He was airlifted to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune. The owner says the employee was a maintenance man picking up garbage.

SVLFever

CPLady

Jim Fisher

Tuesday, March 29, 2005 5:31 PM

I can't understand why so many people find the concept of lockout/tagout so difficult. If you look at fatalities amoung park employees, this is number one. (But then it's number 2 amoung all OSHA fatalities.)

Ajrides

Tuesday, March 29, 2005 6:13 PM

If there is one thing I hate its stupidity and I can't understand why they call it an accident. When a ride is in operation common sense should tell you to stay away from it. I have no sympathy for stupid people.

Danimales

Tuesday, March 29, 2005 7:25 PM

Something tells me there's a lot more to this story. The way the article claims it happened... I just can't imagine such a lack of respect for your own safety as well as the safety of the children on the ride. Unreal.

Chadley

Tuesday, March 29, 2005 9:33 PM

Recently, when I was at Wonderpark in Cincinnati one of the managers was cleaning around the Boa Squeeze coaster as it was running. He had begun cleaning before the ride left the station, but while the ride was in operation he remained still, and as far away from the tracks as possible. To me, this guy did everything the right way, and completed his job. He has a healthy amount of respect for what kind of damage even a kiddie coaster can do to a person. Plus, he also didn't set a trash can on the tracks, (Geez!...what a moron!!)

chillforce5X

Tuesday, March 29, 2005 10:17 PM

Having been right there when it happened, it was a very disturbing sight. From our vantage point we only could see trash being thrown over the deck area under the coaster, the station was in our way. The employee was in an area he should have known he should not be in. He also could have easily emptied ther trash can from the queue line of the coaster. The Operator hit the E-Stop but too much of the train was over the lift at that time and gravity took over.

Danimales, trust me, it happened exactly as it was printed. It was a shame that this happened but I will say that I was pleasantly surprised by the GP who were helping the Park Personell until the police and Para-Medics arrived.

Jim Fisher

Thursday, March 31, 2005 10:36 PM

Chadley:

If the coaster was running, he shouldn't have been cleaning around it. It's not only common sense, but also Federal law that if you are inside the barricade working, the coaster has to be locked out. It's just too easy for someone the miss judge or not realize that the ride is starting.